Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Renner, Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP
  • Patent number: 8341798
    Abstract: Paint roller support includes a substantially rigid sleeve portion for supporting a roller cover thereon and a plurality of flexible fingers that are engageable by an actuator to cause outer ends of the fingers to flex outwardly. An elastomeric material at least partially covers outer surfaces of the fingers for pressing engagement of the elastomeric material against the inner diameter of a surrounding roller cover during outward flexing of the fingers for securely retaining the roller cover in place on the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: The Wooster Brush Company
    Inventors: John L. Scott, Sr., Scott A. Melegari
  • Patent number: 8342371
    Abstract: The caulking gun comprises a cartridge holder (12) for accommodating a cartridge (25). For pressing out the substance contained in the cartridge (25), use is made of a piston (30) which is advanced by a pressure disk (16). The pressure disk (16) can be radially expanded under the influence of the advancement force and thus will press by a spreading edge (49) against the side wall (31) of the piston (30). In this manner, the piston in the region of its side wall (31) is tightly pressed against the cartridge wall. Leakage of substance past the piston (30) is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Fischbach KG Kunststoff Technik
    Inventor: Achim Helmenstein
  • Patent number: 8337938
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of a regenerated silk fibroin solution comprises the steps of: treating silk or silk cocoons with an ionic reagent comprising an aqueous solution of monovalent cations and monovalent anions, the cations and anions having ionic radii of at least 1.05 Angstroms and a Jones-Dole B coefficient of between ?0.001 and ?0.05 at 25° C.; and subsequently degumming the treated silk or silk cocoons; or alternatively, degumming silk or silk cocoons; and subsequently treating the degummed silk or silk cocoons with an ionic reagent comprising an aqueous solution of monovalent cations and monovalent anions, the cations and anions having ionic radii of at least 1.05 Angstroms and a Jones-Dole B coefficient of between ?0.001 and ?0.05 at 25° C. The invention also extends to fibroin solution, a fibroin material and an implant useful for cartilage repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Orthox Limited
    Inventors: David Philip Knight, Nicholas James Vavasour Skaer, Andrew Michael Collins, Tom Louis Dirk Gheysens, Christopher Holland
  • Patent number: 8336817
    Abstract: In a vehicle, having a fixed supporting structure and a load movable relative thereto, a jam tolerant actuating system, a method for controlling this system including: Locating a physical coupling/decoupling mechanism between the load and an actuator assembly as close a practicable to the load; constructing the coupling/uncoupling mechanism to be reversible, and hence testable; and controlling the connection/disconnection via decision making electronics which will detect any system failure by monitoring, at a minimum: actuator main motor load and speed, and actuator output load. Also set forth are specific embodiments of pivotable rotary geared actuators as well as linear ball screw type actuators embodying the coupling/uncoupling mechanisms of this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Flatt
  • Patent number: 8339927
    Abstract: A write-once read-many information recording medium is provided, which is capable of easily searching for a latest DDS and a latest defect list. At least one disc management working area is sequentially allocated in a predetermined direction on the write-once read-many information recording medium of the present invention. The latest defect list and the latest DDS are provided in a recorded disc management working area neighboring a border between the recorded disc management working area and an unrecorded disc management working area, where the latest defect list precedes the latest DDS in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Takahashi, Motoshi Ito
  • Patent number: 8336256
    Abstract: A motorized drive system for a louvre assembly of the type containing a surround frame, a pair of spaced apart operating bars positioned within the surround frame and where movement of the operating bars causes rotation of the louvres, the drive system comprising a motor adapted to be positioned within the surround frame, the motor operationally driving a drive shaft which is substantially horizontal when the drive system is fitted within the surround frame, a mounting member which is attached for rotation with the drive shaft, at least two spaced apart attachment points on the mounting member, a first link arm, a second link arm and a third link arm, the first link arm being attached to one of the attachment points and to one said operating bar, the second link arm being attached to another of the attachment points, the third link arm being pivotally attached to the second link arm and to the other operating bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Assa Abloy Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Craig Robert Jeffrey, Ian David Underhill
  • Patent number: 8340556
    Abstract: A toner stirring section provided in a toner cartridge includes a first rotating body and a second rotating body. The first rotating body is rotated around an axis J13 to stir a toner. The second rotating body includes a conveying sheet for conveying the toner to a toner replenishing roller which is a conveying destination, to be rotatably provided around the axis J13, and to rotate by being pressed by the first rotating body being rotated. The first rotating body and the second rotating body are provided so that the first rotating body presses the second rotating body after the first rotating body is rotated by a predetermined degrees relative to the second rotating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisashi Kunihiro, Koichi Mihara
  • Patent number: 8336389
    Abstract: An optical fiber strain sensor array comprises several sensor support panels spaced in its longitudinal direction and at least one connecting member extending in the longitudinal direction, which mechanically interconnects the sensor support panels. An optical fiber is supported by the sensor support panels and the connecting member. The optical fiber extends with the connecting member between the sensor support panels and forms a curve on the sensor support panel, the curve including at least one portion of the optical fiber that extends in the transverse direction. The width of the connecting member is substantially less than the width of the sensor support panels, such that the connecting member is capable of flexure in the transverse direction. This has the advantage that the connecting member can be flexed to take up any slack during installation of the optical fiber strain sensor array in a wind turbine blade and can be fitted to the turbine blade even if the blade has a conical shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Moog Insensys Limited
    Inventors: Mark Volanthen, Robert Allan Angus
  • Patent number: 8336818
    Abstract: In a vehicle, having a fixed supporting structure and a load movable relative thereto, a jam tolerant actuating system, a method for controlling this system including: Locating a physical coupling/decoupling mechanism between the load and an actuator assembly as close a practicable to the load; constructing the coupling/uncoupling mechanism to be reversible, and hence testable; and controlling the connection/disconnection via decision making electronics which will detect any system failure by monitoring, at a minimum: actuator main motor load and speed, and actuator output load. Also set forth are specific embodiments of pivotable rotary geared actuators as well as linear ball screw type actuators embodying the coupling/uncoupling mechanisms of this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Flatt
  • Patent number: 8339591
    Abstract: Apparatus for interrogating an optical fiber comprising a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings each having a resonant wavelength in a different discrete wavelength band. The apparatus comprises a delay arrangement interposed in use in an optical path for light supplied to and/or reflected from the fiber Bragg gratings. The delay arrangement is configured to apply a different time delay to light in each of the discrete wavelength bands, whereby the light reflected from each of the fiber Bragg gratings is received at an interrogator port of the apparatus in a different discrete time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Moog Insensys Limited
    Inventors: Mark Volanthen, Glynn Lloyd
  • Patent number: 8341092
    Abstract: A packaging method includes the step of comparing a total package weight to a freight rate schedule and thereby determining a normal freight rate. The total package weight includes the weight of a container (22), an article (24) to be shipped and a normal amount of dunnage. If predetermined criteria are met, the method also includes the step of reducing the amount of dunnage dispensed below that of the normal amount of dunnage such that the total package weight falls within a freight rate that is less than the normal freight rate. The predetermined criteria include one or more of a predetermined percentage above a change in freight rate, a predetermined weight above a threshold weight for an increase in freight weight, and dunnage requirements including void-volume, degree of fill for the void-volume, type of article, weight of article and type of dunnage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventors: David M. Gabrielsen, Daniel L. Carlson, Joseph J. Harding, Thomas A. Bilkie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8339711
    Abstract: An electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) device which includes a plurality of array elements configured to manipulate one or more droplets of fluid on an array, each of the array elements including a corresponding array element driver circuit, wherein each array element driver circuit includes: a top substrate electrode and a first drive electrode between which the one or more droplets may be positioned, the top substrate electrode being formed on a top substrate, and the first drive electrode being formed on a lower substrate; and circuitry configured to selectively provide drive voltages to the first drive electrode to move the one or more droplets among the plurality of array elements, and wherein at least one of the plurality of array elements includes: a heater element also formed on the lower substrate and configured to heat the one or more droplets when positioned between the top substrate electrode and the first drive electrode of the at least one array element; and circuitry configured to control the h
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Benjamin James Hadwen
  • Patent number: 8338057
    Abstract: A gasket for sealing internal surfaces of a fuel cell and formed of compressible material, the gasket comprising a first sealing surface and a second sealing surface for providing a fluid seal against opposing faces of a first fluid flow field plate and a second fluid flow field plate respectively, the gasket further comprising a third sealing surface for sealing against an outer perimeter region of a first surface of a membrane electrode assembly, the third sealing surface being entirely enclosed within a boundary defined by an inner perimeter of the second sealing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited
    Inventors: Peter David Hood, Simon Edward Foster
  • Patent number: 8336439
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an armor system comprises a plurality of metallic layers. The armor system further comprises a plurality of non-metallic layers located in between two or more metallic layers of the plurality of metallic layers, such that each non-metallic layer is located at a respective depth in the plurality of metallic layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Alexander F. St. Claire, Timothy J. Imholt
  • Patent number: 8335465
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first and a second image forming sections, a paper feeding section, and a paper output section. The image forming sections form an image on paper independently. The apparatus is laterally dividable into a first and a second portions where the first and second image forming sections are respectively positioned. The feeding section is arranged below the first image forming section in the first portion. The output section is arranged above the second image forming section in the second portion. The apparatus has two simple transport paths that run vertically through the image forming sections, respectively, without intersecting each other and detouring around the second or first image forming section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masami Tsuchida
  • Patent number: 8335447
    Abstract: A fixing device irradiates an unfixed toner image formed on the recording paper that is conveyed by an endless belt for conveying recording paper, with laser light so as to fuse the toner and fix the toner image. The fixing device includes a controller which makes such control as to convey the recording paper so as to pass through the position of the focal point of the laser light and bring the surface of the endless belt away from the position of the focal point of the laser light when conveyance of the recording paper is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomohiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 8335493
    Abstract: A portable device for use of a service provided by a remote service system comprises a communication system and a service selection application. The communication system receives a service message from the remote service system. The service message comprises at least one service descriptor. Each of the at least one service descriptors identifies a one of at least one service provided by the remote service system. The service selection application applies at least one context rule to the at least one service descriptor to determine a selected one of the services provided by the remote service system. Applying the at least one context rule may comprise: i) identifying current context factors of the portable device; and ii) identifying a selected one of the services by identifying which of the at least one service descriptors are associated with the current context factors of the portable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Bo Anders Angelhag
  • Patent number: 8335143
    Abstract: A method for inspecting an optical information storage medium includes the steps of: irradiating the storage medium with a laser beam and rotating the medium by a constant linear velocity control technique by reference to the radial location at which the laser beam forms a spot on the medium; changing the rotational velocities according to the radial location on the medium between at least two linear velocities that include a first linear velocity Lv1 and a second linear velocity Lv2 higher than the first linear velocity Lv1; generating a focus error signal and/or a tracking error signal based on the light reflected from the medium; performing a focus control and/or a tracking control on the laser beam that irradiates the medium based on the focus and/or tracking error signal(s); and passing the branched outputs of control loops for the focus and/or tracking error signal(s) through predetermined types of frequency band-elimination filters for the focus and/or tracking error signal(s) to obtain residual errors
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Nakamura, Kenji Fujiune, Yasumori Hino
  • Patent number: D673131
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Naoki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: RE43872
    Abstract: A headset is proposed for use with a communication and/or multimedia device, said headset comprising an interface for receiving input data, a processing unit for processing said input data to generate audio output signals, a speaker for outputting said audio output signals in a mono mode and connecting means for connecting the headset to a power supply in order to charge a battery or an accumulator being provided within said headset. Said connecting means are also connectable to an additional speaker device forming alone or together with said speaker of said headset a stereo headphone wherein said processing unit processes the input data to generate stereo output signals when said speaker device is connected to said headset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Barteld Trip, Tjapko Uildriks, Erwin Weinans